Focusing on Life - 19 of 52

This week, Sally asked us to focus on hope.

Emotions, I think, are hard to capture in words, much less in a photo.  As in the last few weeks, I spent most of the week deciding what to photograph.

I settled on an idea and asked the kiddo for help. Luckily she agreed on the spot.

The kiddo loves dandelions and she will always grab one and make a wish as we walk to school or to the park.

Wishing and hoping are so similar that I thought a child's wish might work well for this week.

I tried to capture the little white puffs floating away, but all I got was this:

A few wishes stayed with us.  :)

Please visit Sally's blog for more hopeful posts.

A karate keepsake

I've mentioned a few times (okay, several times) that I tested for my black belt earlier in April.

I didn't mention that I tested with thirteen others:  four others testing for first black, one testing for second black, four testing for junior black belt, and four testing for black in ju jitsu.

The test was fabulous.  Everyone did a fantastic job.  It was one of my proudest moments and I was grateful to share it with the other testers, many of whom have become great friends.

Before our test, I asked Erin Prais-Hintz, from Treasures Found, to make a custom "simple truth" pendant for me and the two other women testing for first black.  Erin, who is busier than anyone I know, kindly agreed and even carved a custom plate for the pendant.

Our school's logo incorporates the yin yang symbol, so I asked Erin to use the yin yang on the pendant.

I don't know if you can tell by the picture, but the light half and the light dot are raised a bit from the dark pieces.

Erin used a combination of swellegant metal paints to achieve the patinaed effect.

On the back, Erin stamped the date of our test and a quote:  "we are what we repeatedly do."

I let out a little squeal when I saw the pendants for the first time.  I was floored by how amazing  they were.  I would say that Erin outdid herself, but Erin's work is consistently stunning.  Still, though, these pendants are my current favorites and they are perfect keepsakes.

I strung two of the pendants on a small brass rolo chain for my friends.  They *loved* them.

For my necklace, I made a beaded infinity loop.

I've read that a black belt is not the end, but the beginning of advanced learning.  Training is infinite and I've noticed that there is always something to learn.

I didn't have quite enough chain for my necklace, so I used pearls to fill in a few gaps.

I love the way the necklace turned out.

Erin mentioned that she might be adding the yin yang pendant to her line of Simple Truths.  If you want one for yourself, check out Erin's etsy shop.

Even if you don't want the yin yang pendant, check out Erin's shop. She creates amazing pieces of wearable art.

Erin, thank you so much for creating the pendants for my friends and myself.  We all love them.

Focusing on Life - 18 of 52

This week, Sally challenged us to create an abstract photo.

I puzzled over what to photograph almost the entire week until I bit the bullet and walked outside with my camera.

I took a few pictures of the kiddo's flowers and added a bit of grain to the pictures.

This one seems more abstract and I really love it.

These photos are very much like Sally's inspiration photo she sent us last week.  Sally, thank you for the inspiration and for another wonderful week.

Please take a few minutes to visit Sally's blog to see what abstracts the other participants came up with.

Focusing on Life - 17 of 52

It's been four months since Sally Russick began her "Focusing on Life" series.  Each week, I've enjoyed focusing a bit on my life:  the kiddo, my husband, our family and our day to day activities.  This photo series is shaping up to be a wonderful digital scrapbook, of sorts.

Even more, though, I've enjoyed getting to know everyone who is participating.  Reading through your blog posts has been the highlight of my weekends.  I've been lax on commenting, though, and I apologize to everyone for that.

This week, Sally prompted us to think about color.  I couldn't think of anything that really "spoke" to me.  Then I saw this:

My husband's aunt made up a little Easter gift basket for the kiddos.  In it was, among other things, this colorful pinwheel.

The kiddo loves watching this pinwheel on windy days.

Even though it was a bit rainy today, the kiddo and I had fun making the pinwheel spin so I could take a few pictures.

I love the rainbow effect.

Please check out Sally's blog to see the colorful entries of the other participants.

The 2nd Spring Fling Challenge

Last year, Amy, from Amy Beads, hosted her first Spring Fling Challenge.  Amy put together two gorgeous kits for the challenge, one in blue and one in orange.

I'm not sure how it happened, but I missed it.  The reveals were amazing and I vowed not to miss my chance again.

This year, for the 2nd Spring Fling Challenge, Amy put together a wonderful kit centered around a focal made by Alenka of Pepita Handmade.

Seriously, I love the focal and all of the beads Amy picked out.  Don't the dark blue and purple look awesome together?  I would not have put those together on my own.

I rummaged through my stash and found all different shades of purple seed beads and a strand of blue pearls.

I wanted to put the blue pearls around the pendant, but couldn't figure out how.  I finally decided on a frilly type of embellishment with the pearls.

I absolutely adore how the pendant came out, but realized it was a bit larger than pendants I usually wear.  I was thinking about making it an ornament or bookmark when the kiddo saw it.

She claimed it for her own, so I added a bit of leather cord.

She loves it and I love seeing her wear it.  :)

The next thing I made were little charms with some of the purple beads from the kit.

I used two of the glittery purple stones as drops.

I happened to find pink wire, which made fun earwires.

I wanted to use the rest of the glittery purple stones in a chunky bracelet.  I tried a few different things and settled on Marcia deCoster's "Two By Two" bracelet from  Crystal Jewelry Inspiration.

I used most of the pink pearls from the kit and the rest of my blue pearls on the base of the bracelet.  The purple stones from the kit were perfect dangles.

The bracelet was a little short, so I made a focal/connector with the four large blue pearls from the kit.

I thought it worked perfectly with the bracelet.

You can't see in this picture, but there is a beaded toggle that slips right into the holes in the beadwork.

I love this design.  It's similar to Marcia's Rising Sun bracelet and is so easy to work up.  The layers of beads look give an amazing texture to the bracelet and the dangles are a fun addition.

If you haven't seen Marcia's book, Beaded Opulence,definitely take a look.  Her second book, Beads in Motion, is due out in August (and I can't wait to see it).

Amy, thank you for a wonderful challenge.

Please take a few minutes and visit the other participants to see their awesome creations.

Maryanne • Zingala's Workshop

Therese • Therese's Treasures

Tanya • A Work in Progress - you are here

Alenka • Pepita Handmade

Kepi • A Little of This, A Little of That

Beti •Stringing Fool

Dolores • Crafty D's Creations

Jenny • Wonder and Whimsy

Cynthia • Created Treasures

Mowse • Mowse Made This

Carolyn • Carolyn's Creations

Focusing on Life - 16 of 52

This week, Sally prompted us to take a walk and look at our surroundings.

The kiddo and I love to take walks around the arboretum or hike over a trail or two.  Unfortunately, this week has been break-out-the-winter-coats cold and rainy.  We haven't had much of a chance to enjoy the outdoors.

Luckily, today was perfect for a walk.

A few weeks ago, I learned that Genea, of Genea Beads, lived close to me.  We had arranged to meet for lunch today and lived  for lunch and she was kind enough to let the kiddo and me drag her to the arboretum.

(Genea also brought some of her beads to show me.  As awesome as her beads look in her shop, they are even more gorgeous in person!  Definitely take a look at Genea's etsy shop.)

Genea and I were able to visit a bit while the kiddo ran ahead.

I did get a few pictures of new blooms.

We had a great afternoon and a nice little walk around the arboretum.

Please visit Sally's blog to see what the other participants saw on their walks.

I BROKE IT!!

If you are looking for my Bead Soup Blog Party reveal, click here.

You may have heard me mention here and here that I've been training for my black belt in Okinawan kenpo.

Our school emphasizes both the traditional aspects and the practical applications of karate.  Knowing and demonstrating the material is only one part of the test.

Students must also spar and demonstrate the ability to break boards and/or bricks during each test.

I don't like sparring, but I have come to accept it as a necessary part of training.  I am slowly getting better.  I can't even say that I was dreading the sparring portion of the test because, like anything, I knew I would do my best and let the pieces (hopefully no teeth or other random body parts) fall where they may.

The breaking portion of the test, however, had my stomach in knots for the last week.

Our instructor requires black belts to break a brick.  

When you see someone do this, it looks easy.  Heck, some testers break two, three, even four at a time.

I, however, was struggling with one.  It was like hitting my head against the wall (or hand against a brick) over and over.

Each time, I was wondering how I could possibly have trained for all this time and *not* succeed.

Well, there is something about stress and fear that can make you do what needs to be done.

That broken brick?  I did that!

Thanks to all of you who offered your support a few weeks ago.  Your encouragement meant a great deal to me and I'm so excited that I was able to make all of you proud.